Most private investigators in Chicago will not post their rates online. You have to call, explain your situation, and wait to hear a number — by which point you are already emotionally invested in the conversation. If you are still deciding whether to hire a PI at all, start with How to Hire a Private Investigator in Chicago for a full vetting checklist.
That is not how I operate.
This guide lays out exactly what private investigator services cost in Chicago, what factors drive the price up or down, and precisely what P.I. Radames charges. If you are comparing options, this gives you a real baseline.
The Short Answer: What Does a Chicago PI Cost?
Hourly rates for licensed private investigators in the Chicago area typically range from $75 to $200 per hour, depending on the investigator's experience, the complexity of the work, and what is included in the rate.
Most firms also charge separately for mileage, equipment, database access, and report preparation. Those add-ons can push the effective cost significantly higher than the quoted hourly rate.
P.I. Radames charges $75 per hour — all-inclusive. No mileage surcharge. No equipment fee. No separate charge for the written report. The rate covers everything.
A 4-hour minimum applies per engagement. Most cases start at $300.
What Drives PI Pricing in Illinois
Understanding what goes into a PI's rate helps you evaluate quotes accurately.
Experience and Credentials
A PI with 20+ years of investigative experience — spanning military service, law enforcement, and private practice — commands a different rate than someone who completed a certification course last year. Credentials like the Certified Cryptocurrency Forensic Investigator (CCFI) designation reflect specialized training that most investigators do not have.
Experience matters most in surveillance work, where judgment calls happen in real time. An inexperienced investigator can burn a case by being spotted, following too closely, or documenting evidence in a way that will not hold up in court.
What Is Included in the Rate
This is where Chicago PI pricing gets murky. A firm quoting $85/hour may look more expensive than one quoting $75/hour — until you add the $0.67/mile mileage charge, the $25/hour equipment fee, and the $150 flat charge for the written report.
Always ask what the hourly rate includes before comparing numbers. At P.I. Radames, the $75/hour rate covers:
- All surveillance time, including drive time to and from the subject area
- Mileage and fuel
- Surveillance equipment
- Database and records access
- Written case report with findings and documentation
- Photographic and video evidence
Case Complexity
A straightforward surveillance case — one subject, one location, predictable schedule — is less resource-intensive than a multi-subject fraud investigation or a skip trace involving a subject who has deliberately obscured their location. More complex cases take more time, which means higher total cost regardless of the hourly rate.
Geographic Scope
Cases confined to Chicago and the immediate suburbs are more efficient than cases requiring travel to downstate Illinois or out of state. Travel time is billable time, and out-of-area cases may require overnight stays.
P.I. Radames Pricing: The Full Breakdown
Surveillance and General Investigative Services
| Item | Rate |
|---|---|
| Hourly rate | $75/hour, all-inclusive |
| Minimum engagement | 4 hours ($300) |
| Retainer (standard) | $300 (applied to case hours) |
| Retainer (extended) | $600 or $900 for longer engagements |
The retainer is applied directly to your case hours — it is not a separate fee on top of the hourly rate. A $300 retainer covers the 4-hour minimum. If your case requires more time, additional hours are billed at $75/hour.
Our services page has a full breakdown of what each service covers, including infidelity and relationship investigations, surveillance, vehicle sightings and LPR, fraud investigations, and skip tracing.
Comprehensive Background Reports
Background reports are priced separately from hourly surveillance work because they are a defined deliverable rather than an open-ended engagement.
Comprehensive Background Report: $150 flat rate.
This is a professional investigative background check — not an online database pull. It includes court records, address history, employment verification, associate networks, and professional analysis. It is significantly more thorough than any consumer background check service.
Learn more about Comprehensive Background Reports, including what is covered and the FCRA compliance notice that applies to permissible use.
How P.I. Radames Compares to Other Chicago PI Firms
Here is an honest comparison based on publicly available information and industry norms.
Hourly Rate
Most Chicago-area PI firms charge between $100 and $175 per hour for surveillance work. Firms with significant overhead — downtown offices, large staff, heavy marketing spend — tend to be at the higher end. Solo practitioners with lower overhead can price more competitively.
At $75/hour all-inclusive, P.I. Radames is at the lower end of the market on rate — but the all-inclusive structure means the effective cost comparison is even more favorable once you account for the add-on fees most firms charge.
Minimums
A 4-hour minimum is standard across the industry. Some firms require 6- or 8-hour minimums for surveillance engagements, particularly for cases that require significant setup or travel. The 4-hour minimum at P.I. Radames is on the lower end of what you will find.
Who Works Your Case
At larger PI firms, the person you speak with on the phone is often not the person who works your case. Your case may be assigned to a junior investigator or a subcontractor. At P.I. Radames, I work every case personally. You get 20+ years of experience on your case, not on the intake call.
Transparency
Most PI firms do not publish their rates. The lack of pricing transparency is a known frustration in the industry — it forces prospective clients into a sales conversation before they have enough information to make an informed decision. This guide exists because I think that is the wrong approach.
What You Should Ask Any PI Before Hiring
If you are comparing multiple investigators, these questions will surface the real cost and quality differences. You may also want to read the First-Timer's Guide to Hiring a Chicago PI for a step-by-step walkthrough of the full process.
- What does your hourly rate include? Mileage, equipment, reports, database access — get specifics.
- Who personally works my case? Will it be you, or will it be assigned to someone else?
- What is your license number? Verify it through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). P.I. Radames holds Illinois PI License No. 115-002640.
- What format does the final report take? A professional written report with photographic or video documentation is the standard for court-admissible evidence.
- Have you worked cases like mine before? Experience with your specific case type matters. For infidelity cases specifically, read Infidelity Investigations: What to Expect to understand what the process looks like.
The Bottom Line
Private investigator pricing in Chicago is not as complicated as the industry makes it seem. The key variables are the hourly rate, what that rate includes, who actually works your case, and whether the investigator has the experience your situation requires.
At P.I. Radames: $75/hour, all-inclusive, 4-hour minimum, worked personally by a licensed investigator with 20+ years of experience. Background reports at $150 flat.
Your first consultation is free and completely confidential. Call or message to discuss your case — no obligation, no pressure.
P.I. Radames — Illinois PI License No. 115-002640
